The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.

Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ. You will have to register before you can post or view full size images in the forums.

April 2013 Challenge Entry - Orsmata

Hello Cartographer's Guild! So I found out about this challenge through the DF dev blog. As a DF player with some creative skill to burn, I thought I'd give it a shot.
From the main map, I'm cropping a section of it. I'll use Dwarf Fortress' map export tools to tell me which settlements trade with which others, to help create a map of a localised set of trade routes.

### Latest WIP ###
Scaled down to shave some filesize off, for a preview.

Thanks for the warm welcome you two.
Wee update with style for labels. I'm wondering whether I should stick solely to the generator's names or make up my own; it can come up with some really silly things like a brook named 'Littlespasm'.

Sticking some rough notes written in Tolkien Dwarf runes in there too, as if the map is used both by human and dwarf traders who.
### Latest WIP ###

Hand-drawn mountains? Kudos! I like that compass design too. You might size down the title label (if it is a title label) and place it under the compass, or in the top left corner? Maybe not, but it does seem quite large for the image.